Team profile

The United States are entering a fourth season under head coach John Speraw. They were not able to defend their crown and settled for bronze at the 2015 edition of the FIVB Volleyball World League, but they bounced back to take the title at the 2015 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup, where they also qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. In 2014, they defeated arch-rivals Brazil in the World League final in Florence, the second time they have topped the podium at the tournament. However, it was a different story at the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship where they were ranked joint-seventh overall. In 2013 the US team took the gold medal in the NORCECA Championship, finished 12th in the World League and fifth in the FIVB World Grand Champions Cup.

The US, ranked No.5 in the world, are aiming for a return to the glory days of the 1980s and 1990s when they won two Olympic gold medals (1984 and 1988) and a bronze (1992). They also triumphed at the World Cup in 1985 and the World Championship in 1986. They reclaimed Olympic glory when they defeated Brazil 3-1 to take gold at Beijing 2008, but failed to defend their title in 2012, losing 3-0 to Italy in the quarterfinals.

Coach

Speraw, John

John Speraw took over as head coach of the US men's team in March 2013 and guided them to victory in the World League the following year in 2014. Previously, the California native was an assistant coach for the USA men's Olympic teams that won gold in 2008 and finished fifth in 2012. Speraw was also an assistant coach for the United States silver medallist team at the 2012 World League, deputising for head coach Alan Knipe for four matches in his absence due to a family matter. Despite his national role, Speraw remains the head coach at the University of California in Los Angeles. It was there that he won two national championships as a player.